A new bill would allow Ohioans who need certain medical procedures to get detailed cost estimates before undergoing the procedures.

Rep. Steve Huffman (R-Tipp City) said the legislation would impact procedures that require prior authorization, helping consumers shop for providers and facilities that might have lower rates. The bill does not address emergency situations or other cases where time is of the essence.

Huffman, who chairs the House Health Committee, said patients, hospitals and physicians want transparency in the system, and this bill would help achieve that goal.

The cost estimates would require providers to offer a good-faith estimate of costs, including the expected cost for the patient and information about whether the provider is out of the patient’s insurance network. Huffman added that since some patients trust their physicians and hospitals, they won’t seek the information. But, the information would be available to help patients make more informed decisions about their care, he said.

This new legislation would succeed a related two-year-old law that has never been implemented due to an ongoing court challenge, according to Huffman. That provision was included in a Bureau of Workers’ Compensation budget bill (HB 52, 131st General Assembly), and was challenged in court by a coalition of medical organizations.

The AMCNO supports this bill, and we will provide updates for our members as new information becomes available.